FC Barcelona moved quickly in the winter transfer market to strengthen their defense, identifying Portuguese player João Cancelo as their top choice to reinforce the team, given the urgent need to address defensive gaps. According to reports, there is a preliminary agreement between all parties, with only the official announcement of the deal remaining.

Barcelona's move to sign Cancelo came for several reasons, the foremost being the clear shortage in the right-back position, especially with Jules Koundé primarily occupying that role, and Eric Garcia shifting to play as a center-back and defensive midfielder.

One of the reasons Barcelona signed Cancelo is to provide a reliable alternative to Alejandro Balde on the left side, especially with Gerard Martinez being converted to a left center-back. Cancelo is considered an ideal option due to his tactical versatility; he previously played for Barcelona in the 2023-2024 season, appearing in 16 matches as a right-back and 24 matches as a left-back, in addition to other roles in midfield and attack, giving the coaching staff multiple solutions.

Andreas Christensen's injury, which will keep him out for an extended period, was one of the reasons the Catalan club signed João Cancelo. Additionally, the deal is suitable for Barcelona, as it is expected to be completed on a loan basis at a low cost not exceeding five million euros, which is the maximum amount the club has set for this type of transaction during the winter window.

Amid the difficulty of finding standout full-backs during the January transfer window, and with coach Hans Flick emphasizing the need to strengthen this position, the name Cancelo stands out as one of the most realistic and ready options, given his extensive European experience with clubs like Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Inter, as well as his ability to contribute both defensively and offensively.